Spades Of Talent Unearthed In Spring Garden Competition

Friday, 2 October 2009

More than one hundred and seventy local gardening gurus will gather at Brush Farm House next Wednesday 7 October, when the winners of the new-look City of Ryde Spring Garden Competition are announced at a special presentation evening.

The expanded competition attracted a record 80 entries, with entrants’ ages ranging from as young as four years old up to those in their nineties, proving that gardening is for the young and the young at heart.

The two most popular categories were Most Beautiful Garden with 37 entries and the newly introduced Best Bushcare Site with 11 entries. 

Twenty four awards in all will be presented by the Mayor, Clr Michael Butterworth, special guest Ms Maxine McKew and sponsors of the competition.  The Awards include:

• Best Children’s Garden
• Best School Garden
• Most Beautiful Courtyard or Balcony
• Best Edible Garden
• Best Bushcare Site
• Most Beautiful Commercial Garden
• Most Beautiful Garden
• Mayor’s Choice Award

Also acting as a guest judge, the City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Michael Butterworth said:  "There has been a resurgence of interest in gardening in our local area. I was particularly impressed with the Edible and Most Beautiful Garden entries.

"The standard was exceptionally high and some very beautiful and water-wise gardens and sites made the judges’ job very difficult but most enjoyable."

Experts with unique insight into local area conditions were invited to be celebrity judges.  These include:

• Debbie MacDonald, horticultural editor for Gardening Australia magazine
• Michael McNaught, Horitcultural Liaison Officer for Eden Gardens
• Geoff Hudson, Bushland Management Expert
• Robbie Cunningham, City of Ryde Parks Liaison Officer

Judging criteria was based around three main factors:

• Maintenance – lack of elements such as dead and diseased plants, well presented lawns, clipped shrubs, water usage 
• Design – layout, colour, use of line, form and texture, plant use, attention to detail
• Intent – active participation of the entrant, level of knowledge, enthusiasm and extent of third party assistance

The ongoing support of sponsors Eden Gardens, Australian Native Landscapes and Macquarie Park Crematorium has enabled the presentation of newly designed engraved crystal trophies for 1st place winners, and Spade plaques for all runners up.